I never really got into the Peeps craze, especially around this time of year, but I do love homemade marshmallows, and if you've never had them or made your own, you're missing out. They can be a bit messy, but this walkthrough from the folks at The Kitchn makes it look relatively easy, and the results are worth the effort.

You'll need to put a little effort into this one, and the recipe—like any candy recipe—requires a mixer and a candy thermometer, but if you have the gear to make this one happen, you won't regret it. Homemade marshmallows taste entirely different from store-bought, shelf-stable ones, and once you're addicted, it might be difficult to go back to the convenient stuff. Plus, aside from the gelatin (and maybe the vanilla extract), you probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already required to make these tasty treats.

The folks at The Kitchn went out and bought some rabbit and chick-shaped cookie cutters for their DIY peeps, but we've shown you how to make your own from a simple foil pan for much less. Set aside a little time to make and let them set, and while they won't have the brand name attached, these "peeps" may be a bigger hit than the originals. For the full recipe, hit the link below.